Establish Paternity (Fatherhood)

Step 3 - Establish Paternity
(Fatherhood)

When a married couple has a child, paternity (legal fatherhood) does not need to
be established, since the law automatically presumes the husband is the child's
legal father. When an unmarried woman has a child, paternity must be established
before a court will order child or medical support, or determine custody or visitation
rights.

Paternity can be established with or without the father's assistance. If the alleged
father fails to answer a legal complaint that he is the father, the court will name
him the father by default. If the alleged father disagrees or contests the claim
that he is the father, paternity can be determined after a court-ordered genetic
test has been completed. If the alleged father signs a declaration of paternity
or other legal agreement, the process of establishing paternity will be easier and
faster, in most cases.